Chapter 4: Slave

Often times in life, there comes a time when one is at their lowest point. Plans do not meet their expectations or are just thwarted by reality. In such times, a person would feel like it was the end or that their will to get up was near nonexistent.

Alio was currently at such a time.

'E grade... how could I be?'

The young man gritted his teeth at the mere motion of the letter. Although the thought of himself becoming an E grade has crossed his mind, it has been discarded as an unlikely event.

This was because, although E-grade talented men were the lowest of the low, they were not the most abundant in ratio. Of all the men who are tested, only about 7% are E grade, 50% are D grade, and 20% are C grade. The numbers get lower as it goes up, but it is clear that E graders who have a short ratio are in a worse situation than just being at last. Because if the 50% belonged to E grades, they would have at least been considered average. But now they seemed like the worst of the worst. Something so terrible that they were even rare.

That was why Alio never properly considered that he could actually be an E. Of course, the fact that he was of royal descent played a major role in his confidence. He believed that since he was a prince, surely his princely genes could net him a minor B grade or higher. From then on, he would use his knowledge of the earth to slowly win and take over the kingdom or something.

It all seemed so perfect, but it seemed like his dreams were mere fantasies in the world.

"No," he said. 'I am not quitting. I am not staying down. I can figure something out.'

But although he himself said those words, he didn't know what he should do. With the grade and type of his talent, it seemed impossible to convince a woman to fight for him.

It was then at that moment that the door to the room opened. All the young men in the room, of which there were only about 25 or more, turned to look at the door to see who it was. But visibly, just like Alio, they too were downcast.

From the door came out three women. One of them was Eirene. But with how bad his talent was, Alio was afraid to look her in the eyes. Which should not be a problem, as Eirene did not even glance in his direction. She and the two other women reached the end of the room, where a large case sat quietly.

"Today, all of you have undergone the tests to see what talent you all hold," she started. "But since you are here, that means that you have failed."

The young men bowed their heads down at such a remark. They too, like Alio, had high hopes, but reality had proven otherwise to be true.

"You are all adults now. As promised, you should all be released to the outside world to fend for yourselves."

Upon hearing that, the young men were not so thrilled. After 18 years, they have long known exactly where they now stand in the world. The powers they bring are of no use, so it was almost impossible to be able to earn a living. As most of the jobs were taken by super-abled women, Their powerless selves had no chance of competing. As for finding themselves a wife to take care of them, There was an even lower chance.

So what were they to do?

"I know you are afraid, but the Orpahange will not abandon you. We will give you a job at a brothel in the city. Where will you serve women in exchange for money?"

At the mention of a brothel, Alios brows furrowed. Quite frankly, he did not know the word, as it was never taught to him before. But he did know what 'serve' meant.

'They want us to be prostitutes?'

"All you have to do is wear these 'collars.'" After the last word was stressed out, one of the women opened the chest to reveal the said collars. Which were bronze-colored with while and milky lines patterning into odd shapes and forms.

After seeing these collars, Alio did not know what they were or what they did, but he had a hunch. And he did not like it.

"Come, once you wear these collars, the agreement will be complete, and we will take you to your workplace."

The depressed young men went over towards the box, and each took a collar of their own. All but Alio.

"This all sounds great, but I think I'll try my hand at finding another job." Alio said it with a clearly fake smile. Although the young man was an introvert, he was not the best when it came to hiding his own emotions.

Eirene, though, seemed to be an expert at it, as she smiled brightly.

"But this is what's best for you. The outside world isn't as safe as you might think, Alio. A handsome man like you walking the streets could end up being kidnapped and doing all kinds of things by evil women. This is why the orpahange is trying to help you all." She took one of the bronze collars and walked over to Alio.

"Come on, wear it." As she said that, her eyes glowed in a purple hue. Putting pressure on the powerless Alio.

He reached out his hand as sweat dropped from his face. But before he could take it, he stopped.

"No."

He said to her flat in the face. After all, how could he? He knew where this was going, and he knew how it was going to end. If he takes a step back now, he might never go back. In his past life, he was constantly taking steps back.

Yet when he hit the bottom, he asked himself why or how. Which were stupid questions, questions he knew the answers to but dared not say them. This is why, in this life, he decided not to compromise for anything. This was why he aimed to be king in the first place.

"No?"

Eirene was visibly stunned. But her stunned expression turned back to a smile. Only this time, the nice and honest feeling she exuded vanished without a trace, leaving only a sinister look that sent shivers down Alio's spine.

"It looks like you haven't understood what's going on yet."

She said, But how wrong was she? unlike all the other young men in the wrong, he knew what was going to happen.

For a moment in his life, he had asked himself, "Why are there only boys in the orphanage?" And to answer himself, he always gave the standard answer given by the orpahange: "If boys come too much in contact with women at a young age, it will mess up their results in the 18th year test."

Blinded by the prospect of the future, he didn't follow up with the most important question: "If that were true, why aren't older men taking care of the boys instead? Why is it women?"

But now it seems so clear. If all the orphanage wanted to give was a job at a brothel, why would they need to make them wear these collars? These collars clearly have some sort of function.

But it was clear now that this place was not an orphanage; it was a farm. A place where women can grow as many men as they like. And when they are old enough...

Eirene suddenly gripped Alio's neck. He suddenly felt his body rise to the air and his feet detach from the ground. He started choking as he felt the grip on his neck tighten.

"Do you really still think that I love you? Did you think that all those kisses and hugs I gave you were all because you meant something to me?

"News flash, kid, you aren't. All the time I've spent with you was just an investment. I've taken my time to get close to you as well as many other boys like yourself. In the event that you luckily got a powerful talent, you would have taken me, and I would have been your wife. But just like the others, you are worthless!

"You are more than them! Physical E grade? Fucking garbage!"

Up to this point, Eirene's eyes were filled with anger. The news that Alio's test came out as negative did not sit well with her.

"Eirene! You are going to kill him."

One of the women shouted at her. In the end, Eirene dropped Alio to the ground. While he was still trying to breathe deeply, Eirene turned back to the other boys. Who now seemed hesitant to wear the bronze collars.

"Look here, you useless lumps. For 18 years, you have been fed, clothed, and given a good life. You owe this orphanage a heap of money you can't begin to fathom. And since you can't repay the money with those useless talents of yours, you'll have to use your bodies to pay it back.

"From now onwards, you are slaves. Put on the slave collars; that's an order."

"You bitch!" Alio's loud shout came from behind her. His arm stretched back as he threw what was literally the meanest punch in all his two lives.

But all that momentum turned to naught the moment Eirene faced him. She opened her mouth to a loud shout.

"Ahhh-!"

From that shout, a shockwave originated and blasted Alio in the direction he came. The young man's body crashed into the wall and instantly passed out.

With disgust, Eirene looked at her shoulder, where a bit of spit had fallen on her. "Men are so pathetic."

...